Artificial flower



March 4, 1930. w, COMPTON 1,749,526

ARTIFICIAL FLOWER Original Filed Sept. 23, 1927 3nveutor 1/74 4 w/v-i 6 0/ 11 70% WM a Gttorneg Patented Mar. 4, 1930 WILLIAM E. COMPTON, OF COMPTON, CALIFORNIA ARTIFICIAL FLOWER Application filed September 23, 1927, Serial My present invention relates to improvements in artificial flowers in which the elements of the flower, as petals, leaves, etc. are capable of being made up into tubular shape,

as for instance the chrysanthemum. In making the tubular petals for the chrysanthemum the artificial element is fashioned to closely I resemble the natural petal, and of course the size and shape of the artificial petal may be varied in order that the completed head of the chrysanthemum may avoid the conventional form. i

In carrying out my invention the head of the flower, a stem, and several leaves are fashioned together, and the artificial plant thus completed may be used singly, or to make up a bouquet. The tubular petals are fash ioned from blanks or strips of suitable material, and are so constructed that they may be drawn or bent to simulate the curved petals and they are of the required strength to maintain their shape in order to preserve the appearance of the natural flower.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts, and in the mode or manner of carrying out these arrangements and combinations of parts as will hereinafter be more fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example, of the physical embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combined and arranged according to the best mode I have thus far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention.

I Figure 1 is a view showing a partlally com-- pleted stem and head of a chrysanthemum with several leaves on the stem.

I Figure 2 is a view showing one of the completed tubular petals shaped to conform to the natural petal.

Figure 3 is a view of a blank strip of materialfrom which the petal is fashioned.

Figure 4 shows the raw edges of the strip stitched or sewed together and with a drawstring dangling from the partially completed etal. P Figure 5 shows the petal of Figure 4 with its inner side turned out as the finished side,

No." 221,512. Renewed September 19, 1929.

and with the draw string dangling therefrom. before the petal is fashioned to the shape of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is an end View of the petal of Figure 4, and Figure 7 is an end view of the petal of F igur es 2 or 5.

Figure 8 is a detail showing the lock stitch between the edges of the strip whereby the draw-string may be pulled to shape the petal without separating the stitches.

In carrying out my invention the petal is made or fashioned from a strip or blank 1 of suitable material, such as silk crepe or other material of appropriate color, and preferably two corners of the strips as at 2, are cut on curves for the purpose of pointing the free ends of the petals to simulate the natural petal which tapers down to a point. The length and degree of the curve 2 may be varied to vary the ultimate shape of the .com-

pleted petal with either a long tapered end, or a shortpointed end as desired, In the formation of the tubular petal, the strip is folded along its longitudinal center and stitched at 3 to form the tube 4 with a hem made up of the raw edges 5, 5, and a tapered end 6 for the tube.

The stitch is made with two threads as 3 and the draw string 7, the latter passing through loops L which permit the string to be drawn but retain the string or thread to maintain the stitch that holds together the two edges 5 forming. the hem. The draw string 7 may be left projecting at either or both ends of the petal and it may be drawn from either end to form the petal to its proper shape. 1

After the edges have been stitched as indicated in Figure l, the partially completed petal is turned inside out or inverted so that it will present a smooth, finished exterior as in Figures 2 and 5 and'be provided with a strengthening rib in its'interior-formed of the hem or row edges 5, 5. The petals may be made in various lengths for use in the formation of the head of the flower which is built up at the end of a stem preferably comprising. a wire as 8 that is wrapped with an inner layer of cotton, thread, or floss 9, and an outer layer of silk or floss as 10 of suitable color. The stem may be formed with a knot as 11 made up of the floss and to this member the petals are sewed, the shortest petals being sewed together first and gathered into a circle to simulate the formation of the natural flower. A group of intermediate length petals are then sewed together into a circle and attached where the short petals terminate, after which the longest petals are sewed to the head to complete the flower. One or more intermediate lengths of petals may be used between the shortest and the longest group of petals. To enhance the natural appearance or effect of the artificial flower a number of the longer petals may be draped fromthe flower by sewing to the portion 11, and these petals may hang beneath the head with a natural effect;

The leaves 12 are also of tubular construction similar to the petals and may be fashioned with a fiat appearance, twisted, or

warped, by pulling the draw string to give them the desired shape, and the leaves are attached to the stern by wrapping a portion of an end of a leaf on the stem as indicated at 13 in Figure 1. 7

It will be understood that various kinds of material may be used for the petals, stem and leaves, with different shades or appropriate colors, and the flowers may be made in various sizes to simulate the natural flower.

The showing in Figure 1 is merely that of a conventional exemplification of a flower, and it will be understood that many different varieties of flowers may be simulated by car rying out my invention. r 7

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 2' ,1. An artificial plant element comprising a strip having its folded edges stitched together to form a tubular structure with the edges inside said structure, and a draw-string along the stitched portion whereby the string may be drawn to change the shape of the structure.

2. A tubular plant element having a stitched, interiorhem and tapering end, and a draw string along the stitched portion whereby the string may be drawn to change the shape of the element.

3. The method of producing an artificial plant element which consists in cutting a strip of suitable material, folding the strip along its longitudinal center, stitching the edges of the folded strip with a thread, including a draw-string, to form a tubular structure, inverting the tubular structure, and pulling the draw string to change the I shape of the tubular structure.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

WILLIAM COMPTON. 

